Unlocking opportunities across borders
Global Mobility
Unlocking opportunities across borders
Global mobility – the movement of employees across borders for work presents organisations and individuals with opportunities but also significant challenges
These challenges span logistical, cultural, legal, and personal dimensions
One major hurdle is navigating the complex web of international tax laws and labour requirements
Each country has distinct compliance and reporting rules that can change frequently, making it difficult for businesses to keep up. Rules may be different depending on whether you have a traditional expat, an international local hire, a remote worker or a business traveller. Non-compliance with tax regulations can lead to penalties, legal issues, and reputational damage.
Another challenge is managing the costs associated with international assignments
Relocation expenses, tax equalisation, provision of mandatory pension and benefits together with managing global compliance and reporting can add up, but having the right global talent is critical to a company’s success and it’s important to plan and understand requirements upfront so companies can balance competitive packages to attract and retain talent with controlling costs.
Finally, administrative complexity is a key concern
Coordinating global payroll, benefits, and ensuring data privacy across different regions can overwhelm internal teams. Implementing effective tracking systems, communication processes, and leveraging technology is crucial to managing these challenges while ensuring a smooth experience for employees and the company alike.
I get my energy from helping clients solve their challenges in the simplest way possible whilst ensuring the organisation and their employees receive an exceptional experience.
Rehana Earle
Partner, Head of Global Mobility
View Rehana's profile
What we offer
Successful organisations require the best talent and skills and that means people moving globally to drive growth and develop opportunities.
Our Global Mobility team supports organisations who are going global for the first time through to established businesses who already move and hire talent to work globally.
We also work with senior executives and directors to ensure their global tax affairs are proactively managed. We enable organisations and individuals to ensure they meet the many tax, legal and compliance obligations around the world.
Global Mobility National Practice
Nationally, our approach is to embed specialist teams in key geographical market areas. Along with our extensive network of 75 UK offices, we have deeply embedded relationships in local communities, along with strong links with regional industry bodies and global associations.
Our focus is to provide connected cross-border tax and payroll solutions to help clients drive growth and expand into new markets, while navigating risk and compliance for their mobile workforce.
We tailor complex international advice to the needs of local people, sectors, and markets by combining local expertise and national specialists.
David Livitt leads our team in the South. He can provide the correct support for global mobility functions in your regional business. He has extensive UK and US mobility tax experience and also leads our technology pathway.
James Wheeler leads the Midlands and North regions. He joined Azets in 2022 to lead their Global Mobility team and more recently merged the practice with the Blick Rothenberg team to create a truly national team of specialists. He can support your teams based in this region.
Global Workforce Solutions
Tax and social security obligations for mobile employees can be complex and challenging to navigate.
Our Global Workforce Solutions provide expert guidance to help you stay compliant while optimising the tax position, whether you’re hiring internationally, looking at a permanent relocation, an assignment or a business traveller or remote worker.
Global Executive Solutions
As a global executive, managing your tax obligations across multiple jurisdictions is critical to protecting your wealth and ensuring compliance. Our tailored Global Executive Solutions help you navigate complex tax laws, minimise liabilities, and ensure seamless compliance, no matter where your career takes you.
Our expert team understands the complexities executives face in a global environment. Contact us today to ensure your tax strategy is optimised for success.
Why work with us
An end-to-end service
From initial talent acquisition to ongoing management, we offer a comprehensive suite of services to assist in every aspect of the global mobility journey
Global reach
We have teams in over 100+ countries meaning we can support you wherever you need us to
Tailored solutions
We combine global reach with local expertise and knowledge to provide tailored solutions for individuals and organisations
Innovative technology
Our platform leverages the latest technology to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and deliver actionable insights
Expertise
Recognised for excellence in global mobility solutions
People led
Our team are at the heart of our service delivery and passionate about helping our clients navigate the complexities that arise from cross-border working
Services include
Employer
International hiring and assignment options
Tax advisory, compliance, reporting and payroll
Social security compliance
Cross-border equity compliance and reporting
Business traveller compliance and consulting
Remote and contingent working
Audit and dispute resolution
Senior executive and non-executive director support
Employee tax consultations
Tax return preparation
International tax planning and cost management
Cost projections
Planning and cost optimisatio
Cash flow management
International HR services
International pensions and benefits
Global mobility policy design and implementation
Employees, senior executives and non-executive director
Tax compliance including tax returns and tax consultations
Tax advisory
Social security compliance
Tax audits
Proven experience
This collection of case studies highlights our extensive experience and proven competence in solving complex mobility challenges across various industries.
Each case demonstrates our ability to navigate intricate tax regulation, ensure compliance, streamline processes, and deliver tailored solutions for companies managing international workforces. From mitigating tax risks and optimising payroll to enhancing employee satisfaction during global transitions, these real-world examples provide a clear view of how we drive successful outcomes for businesses expanding across borders
UK employee tax compliance
The Issue
A manufacturing business in Spain won a UK contract. Their Spanish employees are required to travel to the UK to carry out relevant work-related duties as part of their role. While working here, employees receive company-funded accommodation and assistance with their transport costs. They continue to be paid via the Spanish payroll with no reporting being performed in the UK.
The Solution
We assisted the client with their UK compliance and provided following support:
1) Submission of a voluntary disclosure to HMRC to pay prior UK taxes.
2) Setting up of a modified payroll scheme for UK payroll reporting.
3) Setting up a of a Short-Term Business Visitor Agreement for their qualifying business travellers.
4) Reviewing and submitting A1 certificates proving Spanish social security contributions have been paid
5) Provision of UK tax return services
6) Assistance to set up assignment policies to assist with future assignments
The Outcome
The client is now fully UK compliant with appropriate actions taken from a UK perspective.
Ensuring Employee Benefit Parity in a Cross-Border Financial Sector Acquisition
The Issue
An organisation in the financial sector was acquiring a target in a number of European jurisdictions. As part of the deal, the acquiring organisation wanted to ensure that the employees being transferred were no worse off from a benefits package perspective.
The Solution
Our pensions and benefits expert was engaged to review the benefits package (including pension, medical, life and long-term disability, leave policy, sickness absence policy, wellbeing, etc.) in each location for both the acquirer and the target.
From this “side-by-side” summary, potential gaps at a country and an individual level were identified and our expert worked with the acquirer to propose a new package to discuss with the target, their legal counsel and the employee representatives.
The Outcome
The organisation was able to proactively recommend a package that would comply with relevant requirements (e.g. TUPE) but also understand the cost implications of such a package. This put them in a strong position to negotiate the final packages within defined financial boundaries. It also put them on the front foot in terms of communicating outcomes to employees in a positive and engaging way.
A US CFO working in the UK
The Issue
Many senior executives have complex cross border roles. Recently we advised an organisation within the hospitality business to ensure that their recently hired US CFO, who was required to spend 25% of their time working for one of the Group’s UK companies, was getting both the UK and US tax reporting right.
The Solution
Our Global Mobility experts reviewed both the UK and US position for the Group and the CFO and assisted with the following:
Preparing tax simulations for the CFO to show the net impact based on the interaction of their UK and US taxes.
Setting up of an appropriate UK payroll to pay UK taxes based on the extent of CFO’s UK duties.
Assisted with administration of both the UK and US payrolls for the CFO.
Assisted with keeping the CFO insured within the US social security scheme.
Supported the CFO with relevant UK/US registrations and filing of their UK and US returns to optimise their tax position and mitigate double taxation.
The Outcome
The group was able to plan for CFO’s UK role in advance to ensure they were aware of both UK and US compliance requirements for the business and the CFO, with appropriate steps taken to optimise the CFO’s tax position and manage any associated costs.
Our expert team
Our priority is ensuring our clients receive an exceptional experience whilst supporting them to meet the many tax, legal and compliance obligations that cross-border working creates.
Find out more about the team and how we can support your needs to help your, or your company thrive in the international arena.
Contact us to learn more about how we can support your needs to help you, or your company thrive in the international arena.
Delivering an exceptional client and people experience is really important to me. What I find most rewarding is supporting clients to get the best from their global talent
Rehana Earle
Partner, Head of Global Mobility
View Rehana's profile
I advise companies with a mobile workforce on planning opportunities, policy and process suggestions and risk and compliance services
David Livitt
Partner
View David 's profile
I enjoy investing the time in getting to know my clients and becoming an extension of their team; working closely with them to deal with complexities that a globally mobile workforce can bring
Alan Tam
Partner
View Alan's profile
Our experts
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